Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (illness) was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs due to an illness. With Kochanowicz under the weather, pitching prospect Caden Dana will make the start instead. Kochanowicz will hopefully be feeling good enough in a few days to make his second start of spring training as he competes for the final spot in the Angels' starting rotation to begin the 2025 regular season. The former third-round pick in 2019 made his big-league debut in 2024 and went 2-6 with a 3.99 ERA (4.62 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 10 walks in 65 1/3 innings over his 11 starts. The 24-year-old had a miserable 9.4 percent walk rate, although his ground-ball tendencies helped him keep his ERA barely under 4.00. Even if he wins a rotation spot, which is unlikely, he'll have very little fantasy upside.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu could make his Grapefruit League debut either on Saturday or Monday, according to the New York Post's Greg Joyce. LeMahieu dealt with foot and hip injuries a year ago that limited him to 67 games, but he entered spring training fully healthy and ready to compete for the team's starting third base job. The Yankees have been looking to limit his workload this spring to make sure that he's fully healthy for Opening Day, but it looks like he'll begin playing in games soon. The three-time All-Star's skills have eroded offensively in the last few years, and he hit just .204/.269/.259 with two home runs, 26 RBI and 19 runs scored in his 228 plate appearances in 2024. But for lack of better options, LeMahieu is viewed as the favorite for most of the playing time at the hot corner in the Bronx, at least early in the season. At 36 years old, fantasy managers shouldn't be banking on a big bounce-back.

New York Yankees right-hander Scott Effross (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain, according to manager Aaron Boone. Effross received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Thursday, but it's going to be a while before he's able to return. The 31-year-old veteran injured his hamstring on his only pitch during his Grapefruit League appearance earlier this week. The injury surely means that he will open the 2025 regular season on the injured list after he was only able to appear in 16 big-league games since the start of the 2022 season due to injuries. Effross did not pitch at all in the majors in 2023. It's a tough break for the former 15th-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2015 out of Indiana University Bloomington. Effross has a 2.89 ERA, four saves, a 1.06 WHIP and 82:18 K:BB in three big-league seasons over 74 2/3 innings pitched.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he doesn't know when outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) will rejoin the team at spring training. "I don't. Hopefully soon," Boone said. Stanton dealt with tennis elbow in both of his arms last year and also was bothered by it early this spring, which prompted the team to send him back to New York for tests. With no real update on the power-hitting 35-year-old, there appears to be a real chance that he won't be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season at the end of March. The five-time All-Star and former MVP still has plenty of power when he's healthy, but health has been a problem for Stanton, and that's not going to change now that he's in his mid-30s. At this point in his career, he's a DH-only that is injury-prone and really only provides value in fantasy in power and RB1.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (undisclosed) left Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays after just one inning due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Luis Vasquez in the field. Henderson tried to beat out a muffed ground ball in the first inning and also made a leaping catch in the field before departing. Check back for an update soon on Henderson's status. Losing the 23-year-old for any amount of time to open the 2025 season would be a major blow for the Orioles after he proved to be one of the best overall players in the game in a breakout 2024 campaign. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 6 overall player this year after the left-handed hitter batted a cool .281/.364/.529 with an .893 OPS, 37 home runs, 92 RBI, 21 steals and 118 runs scored in 159 regular-season games.